Igniter torch



L. V. ARONSON July 3, 1934.

IGNIIER TORCH Filed Dec. 22, 1953 01155 [Aroma]:

was.

Patented July '3, 1934 Louis V. fironson,

Newark, N. -J., assignor to Art Metal Works, Inc., Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 22, 1933, Serial No. 703,648

8 Claims. (01. 61-41) The invention relates to torches for igniters, particularly for igniters of the pyrophoric character.

It is anobject of the invention to provide a torch element having absorbent means which will not readily become frayed in use.

7 It is a further object of the invention to pro vide a torch element having novel means to retain the absorbentmeans upon a central striking l0 element.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a torch having a reservoir for storage of a quantity of fuel in addition to that stored in a reservoir into which the torch may be inserted.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a torch element having an absorbent material formed of sections separated by metal washers to assist in.preserving the form of the flame carrying portion of the torch.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a torch element carrying a body of absorbent material extending into a hollow cap and provided with washers, as already referred to, which will allow the absorbent material to pass from one section to another of the flame carrying portion.

It is a further object of the invention to improve generally upon torch elements of this character. Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when read inconnection with the accompanying drawing showing illustrative embodiments of the invention and wherein: 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a. central vertical section of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view upon an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a. plan view of a. metal washer; Fig. 5 is a plan view of an absorbent washer; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of metal washer;

7 is a central vertical section showing a modified form of torch; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections on lines 8-8 and 9-9 of Fig. '7, respectively.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive the device comprises a cap member 10. which may be inserted into a reservoir, indicated in dash lines 11, having screwthreaded engagement therewith by virtue of the screwthreads 12. Rigidly secured in the cap 10, there is shown a rod 13 preferably formed of steel and having a projecting end 14 adapted to be used as a striker element to cause sparks to be emitted from a pyrophoric material not shown.

The cap 10 below the screwthreads l2 is shown as formed with a reduced portion 15 to receive a metallic sleeve 16 which may be immovably and separating washers upon the central rod 13.

The sleeve 16 is desirably filled with absorbent material 20. about the rod 13. In torches of this character as heretofore known, and as shown in my former Patent No. 1,342,838 granted June 8, 1920, the absorbent material, as 16 in that patent, tends to become frayed and to present projecting fibres which interfere with the introduction of the torch into the reservoir. In the torch of the present invention the absorbent material in the flame bearing portion of the torch is formed of a series of washers 21 separated by metallic I washers 22. Desirably the metallic washers are slightly less in diameter than the absorbent washers 21', which latter may be of asbestos, felt or of any other suitable absorbent material.

The absorbent material 20 and the washers 21 and 22 may be placed upon the central rod 13 with the hooks 19 in the position shown in Fig. 2 and the latter may then be bent inwardly to the position of Fig. 1 to hold the parts in assembly for use. In order that the fuel carried by the material 20 in the upper portion of the sleeve 16 may pass downwardly from one washer 21 to the next' thereof, the washers 22 are shown as perforated at 23. In a. modified formthe washers may be made serrated or starshaped as shown at 22', Fig. 6, to accomplish the same result. I

In the modification of Fig. 7 a hollow cap 10 is provided carrying a screwthreaded collar 24 rigidly upon its interior. v p

The interior screwthreads of the collar 24 engage exterior threads upon a. cylindrical portion 25 carried by a disc 26 fitting the interior of the cap'10', and fixed across the opening 27 in the member 25, there is shown a bar 28 receiving a reduced portion 29 of a central rod 13', the end 14 of which acts as a striking element.

The disc 26 carries the screwthreaded portion 12' for'screwinginto anopening in a receptacle not shown, which receptacle may contain a liquid fuel desirably held in absorption in absorbent material, in accordance with the usual cigar lighter practice.

Fixedly secured to the screwthreaded portion me '7 to 9 inclusive into wardly to the flame carryin portion of the torch. The said flame carrying portion is formed, as in the modification of Figures 1. to 3 inclusive, of absorbent material washers 21, and metallic washers 22.

As shown in Fig. '1 the washers are retained upon the rod 13' by means of an enlargement 30 rigidly secured upon the rod. Between the rod 13' and within the sleeve 16', there is shown a filling of absorbent material 20' which is continuous upwardly through the opening 27 at the sides of the bar 28 and joins a mass of absorbent material 31in the cap 10'.

By making the flame carrying absorbent material in the form of washers as shown instead of as a mass of loose fibres, the defect of fraying and resulting projecting fibres is avoided and the metallic washers separating the absorbent washers assist in retaining the material in a compact and sightly condition, thus increasing the useful life of the device and enabling the same to be inserted into a reservoir freely at any time.

The hollow cap 10' may be unscrewed from the portion 25 for application of liquid or semiliquid fuel therein and in use the liquid fuel in the reservoir into which the device is inserted will be drawn upwardly in the material 20 or of the modification of Figs. 7 the material 31, thus providing a torch capable of presenting a flame of much longer life than torches heretofore provided.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiments of the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. An igniter torch comprising, in combination: a rod having an exposed striking end flamesupporting means carried by said rod adjacent said end, comprising rings of fuel-absorbing material interspersed with rings of rigid non-absorbent material; and means to retain said rings on said rod.

2. An igniter torch comprising, in combination: a rod having an exposed striking end flamesupporting means carried by said rod adjacent said end, comprising rings of fuel-absorbing material interspersed with rings or rigid non-absorbent material; said last named rings being formed to permit passage of fuel between absorbent rings spaced thereby and means to retain said rings on said rod.

3. An igniter torch comprising, in combination: a rod having an exposed striking end flamesupporting means carried by said rod adjacent said end, comprising rings of fuel absorbing material interspersed with rings of rigid non-absorbent material; the ring nearest said end being formed of the last named material; and means to retain said rings upon the rod.

4. An igniter torch comprising, in combination: a rod having an exposed striking end; a sleeve surrounding said rod cut away at its portion adjacent said striking end to provide spaced longitudinal strips; flame supporting 21', and in the case 'ing screwthreaded engagement means carried by said rod adjacent said end comprising rings of fuel-absorbing material interspersed with rings of rigid non-absorbent material; said strips overlying said rings and the' ends thereof inturned to retain the rings upon the rod; said absorbent rings being exposed between said strips.

5. An igniter torch comprising, in combination a hollow cap a mass of fuel-absorbent in said cap; a sleeve carried by said cap; arod having an exposed striking end extending interiorly of and spaced from said sleeve; said rod being secured to said cap by means providing a passage from the interior of said sleeve to the interior of said cap; fuel-absorbent material in the sleeve about said rod and in said passage in capillary relation with said mass; flame-supporting means carried by said rod adjacent said striking end in capillary relation with the absorbent material in said sleeve; and means to retain said flame-supporting means on said rod.

6. An igniter torch comprising, in combination: a hollow cap; a mass of fuel-absorbent in said cap; a sleeve vcarried by said cap; a rod having an exposed striking end extending interiorly of and spaced from said sleeve; said rod being secured to said cap by means providing a passage from the interior of said sleeve to the interior of said cap; fuel-absorbent material in the sleeve about said rod and in said passage in capillary relation with said mass; flame supporting means carried by said rod adjacent said striking end in capillary relation with the absorbent material in said sleeve, comprising metallic washers interspersed between rings of ,fuel absorbing material; and'means to retain said flame supporting means on said rod.

7. An igniter torch comprising, in combination: a. hollow cap; a cylindrical member havtherewith; means internally carried by said member providing a passage into said hollow cap; a rod rigid with said means and having an exposed striking end; a sleeve carried by said member, surrounding and spaced from said rod; fuel-absorbent material in said space, said passage and said hollow cap; and flame-supporting means comprising fuel absorbent material retained on said rod adjacent said striking end and exposed beyond said sleeve and in capillary relation with said first named absorbent material.

8. An igniter torch comprising, in combination: a hollow cap formed with internal screwthreads; a cylindrical member having external screwthreads engaging the first named threads;

a bar diametrically carried by said member providing passages at the sides thereof into said cap; a central rod rigidly carried by said bar and having an exposed striking end; a sleeve carried by said member surrounding and spaced from 

